Should I Update to iTunes 11?

Apple recently sent out a new update to iTunes that made many changes, and not everyone is enjoying them. As with most software updates by any company, there are always people wondering if the update is worth doing and if they should update now or wait. Unfortunately for Apple, iTunes updates have put a sour taste in the mouths of many Windows users that have made them doubly skeptical of doing updates. Let's take a look at what the update changed and from there you can decide for yourself whether it's worth doing:

First thing you'll notice is an all-new look and feel of the program. In true Apple fashion, the new iTunes is even sleeker and more minimalist than before. While this is very eye-catching, some people have been complaining about needing to "re-learn" where everything is located. Personally, I don't think this is a major issue. You move to different areas of your iTunes library using a drop-down now instead of using a left-side navigation bar.

The thing I enjoy most is the new "Up Next" option for the Mini Player. The mini player is the miniaturized iTunes player you can use to play music instead of having the large program window open and taking up space on your computer screen. Apple's updated that (again, making it more minimalist), but also added the Up Next feature that allows you to see what song is slated to play after the one currently playing. From there you can rearrange the order they play in, remove them from the to-be-played list, rate them, or get more information about them.

Lastly, more iCloud updates. This one is actually quite handy for people with multiple Apple devices that access iTunes. Now you can access all of your content from any of your devices. While Apple had a version of this previously through their paid iTunes Match program, it is now offered free and means that that song you bought on your iPhone instantly appears on your Mac (or PC) at home without having to plug your phone in to sync.

Practical Tip of the Day:

Still not sure if you want to update? It's not uncommon for a smaller bug-fixing update to be released within a few weeks of a major update to a program (this rule of thumb is true for most programs regardless of who makes it). If you're concerned that the new update will mess something up on your computer, wait for the next update and down both of them at the same time. This will make the updating process take longer, but it'll mean you're also minimizing the chance for something to get lost-in-translation during the update process, and as always, I recommend backing up your data before any major software update.


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Can I Access My Computer From My Smartphone or Tablet?

Ever have a file on your computer at home that you really wish you had with you? Maybe it's a resume and you just ran into a prospective employer, a photo you don't have on your phone, or maybe you need to do some work on your computer and won't be home for hours or days. Because of these exact reasons, there are apps you can get for your Apple or Android devices that allow you to remotely access your home or office computer. That means that you can open this app and actually see and control your computer as if you were there. How cool is that? Here are the most popular apps in the marketplace right now:

• GoToMyPC- This is a premium app made by Citrix so I usually recommend it for people who will either be accessing their computer a lot or for business people who need something more streamlined. Designed for either iOS (Apple) or Android, this slick app is free, but does require a subscription to the GoToMyPC service. ($20/month)
• LogMeIn- This app is iOS only, and is a simplified remote access app, which works out nicely for the occasional user. The other nice thing about it is the price tag; The app is free and there is no subscription. Simply download the app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and then the program onto your Mac or PC.
• Ignition- This is the Android version of LogMeIn, and as such is going to be nearly identical. Still able to access both Macs and PCs, still free, and made by the same company as LogMeIn (LogMeIn, Inc.), I'm not sure why they gave it a different name, but nonetheless, here it is.

Keep in mind that these are just the top apps for remotely controlling your computer and there are others out there, but I will caution you when you go searching for other options. Make sure you only download apps directly from the iTunes Store or Android Marketplace and the computer program part directly from the manufacturer's website. This is important as the Store and Marketplace verify the authenticity and safety of the apps and programs before allowing them on the store. That way you know you're not downloading something that will allow anyone else into you devices without your permission.

Practical Tip of the Day:

When you go to look at the apps before downloading them, check the features. You'll often be pleasantly surprised. The ones I've listed often have added features allowing you to do things like transfer files between devices, linking to cloud based storage, and accessing multiple computers.


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What's an Operating System?

Windows, Mac and Linux. These three are the most commonly used operating systems in the world, almost every personal computer using at least one of these, maybe more. The operating system can make or break the user's experience, thus making it one of the most important parts of your computer.

The operating system (or "OS" for short) of your computer is the system of programs that allows you to operate your computer. (See what I did there?) Without it you wouldn't be able to communicate with your computer, and it couldn't communicate with you; Your mouse, keyboard and monitor wouldn't work for starters. In a way, it's the translator between the two of you. The OS controls everything from how you empty the "trash" to how you connect to the internet, what kind of programs you can run and even your privacy and security.

For example, many people have heard that Macs "can't get viruses". While that's not entirely true, Macs and other Unix-based OS'es (like Linux) are innately more secure, making it more difficult for viruses, trojans, and other bad programs to get into your system. One of the reasons they're more secure is because they "speak" a different language than Windows, whom most of the viruses are written for. Imagine, if you will, that Windows speaks Russian, Macs speak Spanish, and Linux speaks French. If you gave a book written in Russian to Windows, it'd understand it. If you gave it to the Mac or Linux though, they wouldn't.

(Side note: You might have noticed in my analogy that I gave the Mac and Linux languages that are similar (romance languages); This is because both of these computers are similar when you get down to their underpinnings, but have diverged enough to make them distinct.) That's why a computer game you buy at the store might work on your Windows computer, but not your Mac or vice versa. The three systems speak different languages that allow them to talk to you, and you to it, but maybe not so much with each other.

Practical Tip of the Day:
While most types of computer files are "universal", meaning they can be used on almost any kind of computer, some are "proprietary" meaning they can only work on one. An example of this is the Windows .EXE file. This is a file that contains a program, but if you put it on a Mac or Linux computer, it wouldn't do anything. If you receive a file that you don't recognize, a simple Google search for the suffix (the characters that come after the period in the name) will usually tell you what kind of file it is. As usual, I NEVER recommend opening a file you received from unknown sources as it can contain a malicious program.